someotherplace

The exact models of boots suggested would be helpful. I'm not sure how Chippewa made the list unless their other models are far more comfortable than the engineer pull-on steel toe boots I used to get from them for motorcycle riding. I liked the steel toe and the Vibram sole, they gripped well when at stoplights, but for walking/working they were like wearing tombstones. Need some good new boots but it's hard to find something that is a pull-on (no lacing), steel toe, non-slip sole (especially on wet asphalt), water-resistant, COMFORTABLE, and black. I hate brown boots! Richard

Whenever I hear the word "fair" it makes me wonder who it's supposed to be fair for. The violator, a.k.a. trespass parking perpetrator? Or the tow operator and lot owner paying mortage/rent, taxes, employees, equipment notes/operation/repairs, insurance, and more...sounds like the folks that came up with those "fair" prices need a dose of reality. Richard

This is Houston TX; a lot of the apartments that his company has contracts with are lower income properties (we've worked many of the same areas and have even had contracts bounce back and forth between his company and ones I've been with in the past.) We have a very large "undocumented alien" problem here, let's just go ahead and call them illegals, and many do not have drivers licenses, insurance, or even registered vehicles. Lots of them driving around with temporary plates that were bought off craigslist or other online sources that are not legitimate temporary plates, making it difficult if not impossible to track down criminals. I wouldn't be surprised if the murderous trash that took his life is already across the border. : ( Here's hoping they do bring them to justice, though. I doubt Mr. Martinez did anything to deserve dying over. Richard

Zero actual sources cited, not a serious article whatsoever. It barely rates as "entertainment" and is about as realistic as a celebrity gossip piece in the National Enquirer. Not worth the effort to respond to this so-called author. She/he/it writes like a slow high school student. Richard

Longer wheelbase helps keep the front end planted, but all that extra weight of the boxes on the chassis decreases from the truck's GVWR. Unless the builder had some legitimate need for all that storage space, which is unlikely, IMO it was just a "did it because he could" effort to use up the frame length of a truck that was previously a flatbed or box truck, instead of relocating the spring mounts forward and chopping the remaining frame off at a more reasonable wheelbase for a wrecker - 60" (no boxes, just bed) or 84" cab-to-axle (1 regular box, and bed). If the boxes appear to not separate you can bet the builder welded them and filled the seams, probably with bondo. Richard

Someone went to a whole lot of effort to reduce the load capacity of that unit instead of just cutting the frame. Richard

That's a hell of a tough VW. "I always test the roof that way, you know, the top end. For stress factors." -- Dr. Thompson Richard

The TowMate suction cups work OK but you have to put some care into using them. They can't be stored where they will get damaged; i.e. side box, behind the seat, etc. I keep them upright in their box so the cup part aims up instead of touching anything. If you put them on a dirty/dusty part of the vehicle, they will pop off. In that case often the best scenario is to wipe a section of the windshield clean and attach to that. Leave the adjuster knobs loose at first, attach them to the magnets, then set the lights against the surface. With the lock lever loose, push the cup flat, depress the button, flip the lock lever, tighten the adjuster, move to the other one and adjust it as needed to allow it to sit flat, too. So many plastic, aluminum, panoramic glass, cars made of air out there that I find I'm using mine more and more. In a PPI situation there's no opening the vehicle to put them on the dashboard, plus you also run the risk of damaging the dash even if you're careful. High end vehicles with leather trimmed dashboards, heads-up displays, sensors, flip-up navigation screens, and more - you don't want that repair bill. Trust me it's more than the tow lights cost.. Just had these pics handy as I needed them twice in one night, one car right after another. Dolly jobs, too, which is why I had the CYA pics. Panoramic glass and aluminum hood on the 4matic Benz, and obviously fiberglass on the Corvette. If the glass is clean/can be cleaned, it's my preferred spot to put them. Richard

Underwear issue aside, it sounds like they dismissed him for endangering their valuable equipment. The very last picture in the series with the water up to the top of the tires troubles me much more than any pic of a dude in his underwear. These trucks aren't submarines. Richard

Some are quick to judge when the truck in the picture is not in motion yet. Richard

Overheated, or just underhydrated? Richard

Just wrecks then, no impounds? I'm honestly surprised that anybody could operate storage without a secured area. Must be the folks where you're at are better behaved? Here it's not just the vehicle owners you have to worry about, but also "shoppers" that might help themselves to other people's items. In Texas you can't operate a VSF without all vehicles being inside a secured/fenced area, and depending on city, some are even specific about the type of fencing, among other things. Storage rates are regulated by the state, and gate fees are not allowed. Not passing judgement...just offering another perspective from another area. Richard

Mr. Rivers said a lot. His attorney has his work cut out for him. At least it doesn't seem he tried to sell the story that getting paid $8K to transport an everyday vehicle several states away was nothing unusual. Richard

Yeah, I used to use the vacuum caps a while back but found that they seem to break too easily - right at the mold line under the domed section. They're also much thicker than the original tip so you have to gap the door a bit more to get 'em in there. I really don't mind ordering some original Big Easy tips since I know they're the correct ones...but haven't seen anybody offering the Little Easy tips. Richard

The transmitter will work fine hidden inside the rear of the bed. Some of the newer trucks I've seen have an extra socket in the side box. I wired one up in the taillight housing of a Vulcan 810 years ago by taking an extra socket and popping out the insert (no need for the metal mounting flange/cover) and tapped the wires in, attached the transmitter, and zip-tied it in place so it wouldn't bounce around. Worked like a champ. Richard

Yep, no more disconnecting linkage on RAM trucks since 2011-2012 I think. They *look* like you can disconnect it but you can't shift, as you discovered. And, on Mopar fullsize cars since 2008. BUT, there is a release inside the vehicle on most. I usually don't mess with them being full-time PPI as I do not have keys. However if you're on a consent tow there is a release cord inside the cars console, and on the trucks I believe it's to the left of the column in the dash after you pop a panel off. Richard

I generally dolly Corvettes and anything with front bumpers that are excessively low. They're bound to already have some pre-existing damage that no matter how good your condition pictures are, they'll find some way to blame you for it...so up on the dollies they go. They'll still try to blame. But I have pics including their car up on dollies. Richard

As it always seems to happen, keeping my long reach tools behind the seat, the tips end up torn or missing after a while. I know I can get the "official" Big Easy tips from Zips/etc. or even my local wrecker supply although they're wayyyyy across town so I never get over there. What I haven't seen are correct size/type replacement tips for the Little Easy. It's much thinner than the Big Easy so the tips marketed for that one won't fit, not even close. It looks like just a vinyl cap used in shelving and other applications but I don't want to have to do a bunch of experimenting at various stores until I find something that works. Daytime hours when places are open are my "sleep" time.. Richard

I can see we have one responder here that is good at ignoring details and thinks what he knows works in every single situation. Thanks for your input... Richard

Dragging & shaking = you have destroyed any credibility you may have had in this discussion. I also seriously doubt anybody with a flatbed is hooking up that quickly. You may think you're operating that fast but you may want to put a stopwatch on it for a dose of reality. Furthermore in the scenarios I already explained, you wouldn't even be able to get the truck into loading position; these are cramped, very busy parking lots. There's literally no room for a flatbed to operate in a manner that wouldn't take many times longer than the slowest guy with a wheel lift. Yeah, not looking for any kind of official override function - I wouldn't expect there to be one, and definitely would not be opening the car hoping to find one. I have heard of junk haulers being able to bypass them with some trickery and it seems totally plausible; I'm sure the electric brake setup is a stepper motor or similar type design that you apply power and it engages, then reverse the polarity and it retracts. There will be connections outside the vehicle near the brakes. I'd be willing to bet that a little experimentation with a small jump box and some test leads, I could make it happen. I was mostly curious if anybody else here had gone down that path and what the pros/cons might be; if it freaks out the onboard systems or if they're just not that smart and this can be done without any ill effects. In reality and for sake of speed in most cases I'm sure we will continue to dolly. However I foresee the situation where we'll have one a long distance from the lot with an electric brake set and it just isn't feasible to dolly it that far, but it must be towed. Being able to release the brake would be a huge benefit. My comment about taking all day with the flatbed was primarily just a figure of speech, by the way. Many years ago I did quite a bit of flatbed work and have jammed them into places many think they wouldn't fit, but I am telling you, I have many areas I'm working now that you literally could not get a flatbed in to load. Some responding seem to overlook that and still think you can throw that tool at any situation and that simply isn't true. Richard

I don't know about plenty. If you're already out doing business that day in a rollback and just happen to get a PPI, not in a super-cramped and ultra-busy small commercial property, or a parking garage, I could understand that...but nobody is doing full-time PPI in a rollback. I mean, I can use a football as a hammer and maybe have some success but I'm far better off using an actual hammer.. All other issues aside, something to keep in mind about throwing a rollback at this electric brake problem is you still have to position the vehicle for loading. Remember? It's a front wheel drive car with an electric parking brake. You'd need 4 go-jaks to move it (and hope you're on fairly smooth, flat ground) just to get it in place to load. We're not working in football fields, these are parking lots, and most of them have very limited room to maneuver. By the time you get through running the deck down and pulling your line out of the winch, I'll already have the car loaded including popped up on dollies. Then you still have to fight a car with 4 wheels that won't roll, up the deck...then back down to unload at the lot. No dragging.. is it possible? Absolutely. If you want to take all day for 1 tow. Richard

Bed? This is PPI; all trucks on duty are wheel lift. Don't tow? Not an option. If they're in violation, they will be towed. Dollies will be used. Just wondering about other possible options. Richard

Thank you Michael! Merry Christmas to you and yours, as well! Richard

Let's just say that approaching the government entity that regulates the towing rate is a non-starter. I'll absolutely agree with you though; we see more and more electric brake vehicles, and AWD vehicles. Hook-and-book is becoming a thing of the past! There is a way around the parking brake, just need to understand it better to be aware of how to effect it and if there's a liability angle. Richard

Regulated non-consent rates prevent us from charging any extra. Regardless, the vehicle must be towed. Richard